Lead Data Scientist Salary in 2022

Salary details

The average Lead Data Scientist salary lies between USD 56,723 and USD 172,309 globally. It represents the overall compensation/gross salary amount for the working year (before deductions like social security, taxes and other contributions), not including equity/stock options or similar benefits.

All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated: Dec. 15, 2024

Top 20 Job Tags for Lead Data Scientist roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with Lead Data Scientist job listings are Machine Learning, Python and Statistics. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2022 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Machine Learning | 100 jobs Python | 92 jobs Statistics | 76 jobs SQL | 70 jobs Engineering | 65 jobs Research | 63 jobs Computer Science | 51 jobs R | 45 jobs Mathematics | 38 jobs ML models | 36 jobs Testing | 33 jobs Big Data | 29 jobs Scikit-learn | 29 jobs Spark | 28 jobs AWS | 28 jobs Agile | 28 jobs TensorFlow | 27 jobs NLP | 26 jobs PyTorch | 25 jobs PhD | 25 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Lead Data Scientist roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with Lead Data Scientist job listings are Career development, Team events and Health care. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2022 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 89 jobs Team events | 33 jobs Health care | 32 jobs Flex hours | 30 jobs Startup environment | 27 jobs Flex vacation | 26 jobs Competitive pay | 21 jobs Equity / stock options | 18 jobs Insurance | 16 jobs Conferences | 15 jobs 401(k) matching | 11 jobs Salary bonus | 11 jobs Gear | 9 jobs Parental leave | 7 jobs Home office stipend | 7 jobs Transparency | 6 jobs Wellness | 5 jobs Relocation support | 5 jobs Medical leave | 4 jobs Lunch / meals | 3 jobs

Salary Composition for a Lead Data Scientist

The salary for a Lead Data Scientist typically comprises a base salary, performance bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or profit-sharing. The base salary is the fixed component and usually forms the bulk of the total compensation package. Performance bonuses are often tied to individual or company performance metrics and can vary significantly. Additional remuneration, like stock options, is more common in tech companies and startups, especially in regions like Silicon Valley. In larger corporations or financial sectors, bonuses might be more substantial, reflecting the company's profitability. Regional differences also play a role; for instance, salaries in major tech hubs like San Francisco or New York are generally higher than in smaller cities.

Steps to Increase Salary from a Lead Data Scientist Position

To increase your salary from a Lead Data Scientist position, consider the following strategies:

• Specialize in High-Demand Areas: Focus on niche areas within AI/ML, such as deep learning, natural language processing, or computer vision, which are in high demand.
• Pursue Leadership Roles: Transition into roles with more managerial responsibilities, such as Head of Data Science or Chief Data Officer.
• Expand Your Network: Engage with industry professionals through conferences, workshops, and online platforms to open up new opportunities.
• Negotiate Effectively: When offered a new position or during performance reviews, negotiate for higher pay based on your contributions and market research.
• Consider Relocation: Moving to a region with a higher cost of living and demand for data science skills can result in a significant salary increase.

Educational Requirements for a Lead Data Scientist

Most Lead Data Scientist roles require at least a master's degree in a relevant field such as Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or Data Science. A Ph.D. can be advantageous, especially for roles that involve complex research and development tasks. Additionally, a strong foundation in programming languages like Python or R, as well as experience with data manipulation and machine learning frameworks, is essential.

Helpful Certifications for a Lead Data Scientist

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your credibility and skill set:

• Certified Data Scientist (CDS)
• Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Scientist Associate
• AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty
• TensorFlow Developer Certificate

These certifications demonstrate proficiency in specific tools and platforms, which can be beneficial in certain industries or companies.

Experience Required for a Lead Data Scientist

Typically, a Lead Data Scientist is expected to have 5-10 years of experience in data science or related fields. This experience should include hands-on work with data analysis, machine learning model development, and deployment. Leadership experience, such as managing a team of data scientists or leading significant projects, is also crucial. Experience in a specific industry, like finance, healthcare, or technology, can be advantageous depending on the company's focus.

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